Norwich, Connecticut

One of the chief towns of New London county. Norwich city is situated at the head of navigation of Thames river, at the point of land formed by the junction of the Shetucket and Yantic rivers, whose united waters constitute the Thames. The main part of the city is built on the southern declivity of a high and rocky hill: the houses are built in tiers, rising above one another. The city, as it is approached from the south, presents one of the most beautiful, interesting, and romantic prospects in the state. The buildings, which are mostly painted white, appear in full view for a considerable distance down the river; these, contrasted with the deep green foliage covering the rocky and elevated banks of the river, give a picturesque variety to the scene, forming on the water a delightful avenue to the city. There are in this city, (or as it was formerly called, Chelsea or Norwich Landing,) a court house and town hall. A high school for boys, and a female academy, in which the higher branches of education are taught, have been in operation for a considerable time, and are in flourishing circumstances. About a mile eastward of the landing is situated the flourishing village of Greenville, at the eastern extremity of which a dam has been constructed across the Shetucket, which will, it is calculated, furnish sufficient water power to carry 60,000 spindles: four or five large factories, and perhaps 40 or 50 dwelling houses, are, or are about to be built. Among the factories there is perhaps the most extensive paper mill in the state, owned, by the Chelsea Manufacturing Company. There are also two other paper mills near the falls, which do an extensive business. The first paper manufactured in Connecticut was made in this town by Col. Christopher Leffingwell. There are at, and near the falls, 9 or 10 establishments for manufacturing purposes. Besides these, and those at Greenville, there are some more in other parts of the town. The principal manufactures are those of cotton, paper and woolens. Norwich city is 13 miles N. from New London, 38 S.E. from Hartford, 38 S.W. from Providence, and 50 N.E. from New Haven. Population of Norwich, in 1830, was 5,179; of which 3,144 were in the city limits.